Avedon’s style is very distinguished. In his work at Vogue, Avedon did not conform to the standard technique of taking fashion photographs. This standard was usually to have the models stand, seeming to be disconnected and unemotional toward the camera. Instead, Avedon took photos in which the models showed a lot of emotion. Sometimes these fashion photos were even action photos. In his portrait pictures, Avedon captures personality and emotion. His photos can be recognized by the subject posing in front of a white backdrop, usually looking straight into the camera with front lighting. He has the ability to evoke emotion out of his subjects, which makes for an interesting photograph. Avedon uses high contrast in his photographs which give his photos more force. His minimalistic style contributes to the power of his subjects. In other words, because the person himself is the only object being photographed, the subject’s personality can prevail.

With his raw photographic style, Avedon captures the essence of pianist Vladimir Horowitz in this 1975 photograph. The high contrast accentuates the lines of Horowitz’s face, showing his personality. This style of photograph is typical of Avedon. I look at this photograph and even though I have never met the pianist, I get a glimpse of what kind of person he is. I see he has a sense of humor that a lot of people may not see when he is in his professional setting. I think Avedon does an excellent job of making his subject feel comfortable. He is able to evoke emotions that add to the power of the photograph.